Means for securing heels to shoes



May 17, 1938. H.GORDON YET AL 2,117,475

MEANS FOR`SECURING HEELS TO SHOES Filed May 25,r 1956 Patented May 17,1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MEANS FOR SECURING HEELS TO SHOES HiramGordon and Albert C. Rogge, Columbus, Ohio, assignors to Lock-n HeelCompany, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application May 23,1936, Serial No. 81,476

11 Claims.

tions of shoes.

In the patent to A. G. Eichhorn No. 2,023,671, granted December 10,1935, a shoe heel attaching construction is disclosed comprising ametallic plate which is secured to the heel seat of a shoe 0 by means ofintegral prongs passing through the insole and outsole of the shoe andclinched into permanent engagement therewith, the plate being furtherformed with integral spaced downwardly extending ears which arereceivable within correspondingly formed slots provided in the upperportion of the heel body, the heel proper being secured to thedownwardly extending ears of the plate by means of a transverse pinextending into the heel from the breast surface thereof and passingthrough apertures formed in the ears of said parte. In the applicationof a plate or thiskind to the heel seat of a shoe, it has been customaryheretofore to trim or cut the outsole by an independent machine or knifearound its margins to effect a preliminary shaping of the outsole inorder that it may receive and accommodate the heel attaching plate.

In accordance with the present invention, the plate itself has its outermargins formed with an integral upwardly directed flange having asharpened cutting edge, whereby when the plate is forced into engagementwith the shoe by pressure, the said cutting flange penetrates the heelseat region of the outsole to automatically trim or cut the lattersimultaneously with the 5 operation of securing the plate to the shoe,there-` by avoiding the expense and delay of the preliminary cutting ortrimming of the outsole to form: the heel seat.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a heelattaching' plate ofthe character set forth wherein integral attachingprongs, projecting upwardly from the margins of the plate, and whichpenetrate both the insole and outsole, are provided with reenforcing`ribs throughout the major portion of the length thereof, an-dA terminateat their outer ends in unreenforced or mechanically weaker extremities,whereby when the plate is forced into operative and secured engagementwith the heel region of the shoe, the said reenforced prongs willreadily penetrate the leather comprising both the insole and outsole,and the said weaker extremities, upon engagement with the `metallic heelfacing of a a shoe last will be'inwardly and reversely turned into firmclinched engagement with the insole, whereby said plate will produce arm anchoring means to which an associated heel may be securely attached.

For a further understan-ding of the invention,

reference is to be had to the following description and the accompanyingdrawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a shoe heel attaching plate constructedin accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken through theplate;

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional View thereof; Y

Fig, 4 is a detail perspective view disclosing the plate immediatelyprior to being forced into secure engagement with the heel receivingregion of a shoe;

Fig. 5 discloses the plate in its operative position on the heel regionof the shoe and also disclosing the U-shaped blank cut from the outsoleby the plate when the latter is forced into its operative position;

Fig. 6 is a vertical transverse sectional view on the plane indicated bythe line VI-VI of Fig. 5 disclosing the `manner in which the attachingprongs of the plate are clinched in engagement with the insole when theplate occupies its applied position on the shoe; l

Fig. '7 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view gisclosing the plateconnected with an associated eel;

Fig. 8 is a detail view of the heel attaching pin.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a modified type of shoe heel attachingplate.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the improved heel attachingplate, comprising the present invention, is designated generally at l.This plate is employed to mechanically unite a heel, indicated at 2,with the heel receiving region 3 of a shoe 4. The outsole of the shoe isin-Y dicated at 5, the adjoining insole at 6, and the upper of the shoeat 1. l

As in the aforesaid patent to Eichhorn, the plate I is preferably formedfrom metal and is longitudinally and transversely curved, as indicatedat 8, to constitute a heel seat when applied to the shoe. The dimensionsof the plate will of course vary with the size of the shoe and the heelto be attached thereto.

Integrally depending from the plate l,.as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, arespaced ears or keepers 9y which may be provided with weakened regions asindicated at ID or may be formed with apertures Il, as indicated in Fig.4. These ears or keepers are received within correspondingly formedslots I2 extending inwardly into the body of the heel 2 from the uppersurface thereof. In addition, the body of the heel is provided with atransverse bore I3, extending inwardly from the breast face I4 of theheel, the bore I3 being located approximately in registration with theweakened region I of the ears or keepers 9 or the apertures II thereof.The bore I3 is formed to receive a securing pin I5 which is driven intothe heel body from the breast surface and passes through the weakenedregions I0 of the ears 9 or through the openings II expressly providedtherefor. Preferably, the pin is provided, as shown in Fig. 8, withannular shoulders I6 which, when the pin is operatively positioned asshown in Fig. '7, lockingly engage with spurs produced by the pin whenit penetrates the weakened regions III of said ears, or when beingforced through the openings II. This construction serves to retain thepin positively in its secured position within the heel body, and toprevent accidental withdrawal thereof.

In accordance with the present invention, the outer marginal portion ofthe plate I, except the forward edge thereof is provided with anupwardly directed substantially vertical flange II, as shown in Figs. 2and 3, Yand with integral attaching prongs I8, which project aconsiderable distance above the flange I I. The upper edge of the flangeIl is beveled or sharpened as at I9 so that it will constitute a cuttingedge, and the outer or upper ends 2U ofthe prongs IS are likewisesharpened so that they will readily penetrate the leather material fromwhich the insoles and outsoles of shoes are formed. The prongs I8 arelongitudinallyY reenforced by integral ribs 2I so that they will possesssuilicient stiffness to prevent the same from bending or turning fromtheir fixed positions on the plate when being driven throughthe insoleand outsole, the ribs 2I, however, terminate short of the extremities2l) of said prongs.

At the time of attaching the plate I to an associated shoe,.the latteris carried by the usual last indicated at 22, the latter being providedwith the customary metallic heel facing 23. The plate I is preferablyapplied to the heel region of the shoe by pressure supplied by asecuring machine of the type, for instance, set forth in our applicationSerial No. 81,478 filed May 23, 1936 or that disclosed in the patent toDopp 2,017,234 issued October 15, 1935. Before the plate is applied, theoutsole in registration with the breast line of the heel to be appliedthereto is inwardly and transversely slit as at 2G on the opposite sidesthereof, and the forward edges of the plate I, when applied to theVoutsole,. are vertically aligned with these slits. As pressure isapplied to the plate, the prongs I8 thereof penetrate the outsole andinsole until the penetrating terminals ,2B of said prongs engage withthe metallic last facing 23. Due to the flat, unreenforced constructionof the terminals 20, the latter are turned inwardly and reversely bent,as at 25 in Fig. 6, to produce what may be termed a shhook clinch.

Simultaneously with this operation, the cutting edges of the iiange I1penetrate the outsole and cut the latter to produce a readily removableU-shaped blank 26,V as disclosed in Fig. 5. Thus by the construction ofthe plate I and by itsaforesaid manner of attachment to the heel regionof the shoe, there is simultaneously effected the trimming of theoutsole and the formation of a completely finished heel seat to whichthe heel 2 may be readily connected through the provision of theattaching pin I5. The invention, therefore, eliminates the usualoperation of independently trimming the heel seat prior to theapplication of the attaching plate, and avoids the expense and delay ofsuch preliminary heel seat trimming. In addition, the prongs arereenforced so that they will not bend or deviate from their intendedpaths of travel while penetrating the leather of the insole and outsoleand through the provision of the weakened outer ends or terminals 29 ofsaid prongs secure clinching engagement of the prongs with the insoleand outsole is obtained which will not in any way injure or causediscomfort later on to the heels of the wearers of said shoes.

In the modified form of heel attaching plate illustrated in Fig. 9, theforward ends of the flange I'Ia are extended and sharpened at theirupper edges as at I9a. to provide extended cutting edges which willreach to the transverse slits 24 and completely sever the surplus stockfrom the outsole in the event the heel to be attached to the shoe has abreast line which is spaced forwardly from the edge of the plate I.

What is claimed is:

1. A shoe heel attaching device comprising a sheet metal plate shaped toconform to the contour of the heel seat surface of a shoe, an upwardlydirected marginal cutting ilange formed with said plate, integralupwardly directed fastening prongs formed with said plate and ange, andspaced downwardly directed heel attaching ears integrally formed withthe body of said plate.

2. A shoe heel attaching device comprising a sheet metal plate having abody portion slightly curved in longitudinal and transverse directionsto produce a metallic heel seat, and substantially continuous sole stockcutting means formed with the marginal portions of said plate.

3. A shoe heel attaching device comprising a sheet metal plate having abody portion slightly curved in longitudinal and transverse directionsto produce a metallic heel seat, and substantially uninterrupted solestock cutting means integrally formed with the marginal portions of saidplate.

4. A shoeheel attaching device comprising a sheet metal plate shaped toconform substantially to the contour of the heel seat surface of ashoesaid plate including a plurality of spaced pointed fasteningelements directed upwardly from the edge of the plate, said plateincluding a pair of downwardly directed ears, and a marginal sole stockcutting flange integrally formed with said plate.

5. A shoe heel attaching device comprising a sheet metal platelongitudinally and transversely curved downwardly to correspond to theheel seat of a shoe and the base of a heel adapted to be permanently andrigidly attached to the heel of a shoe by integral prongs directedupwardly from the edge of the plate and to provide a marginal areabetween the edge of the plate and the edge of the heel seat, a pair ofspaced apertured ears dependingvfrom said plate, and upwardly directedsole stick cutting flanges disposed between said prongs, said flangesbeing of suicient height to penetrate the outsole stock of an associatedshoe and to produce a substantially U-shaped cut in said outsole stockwhen said plate occupies a heel seat forming position on the shoe.

6. A shoe heel attaching device comprising a sheet metal plate shaped toconstitute a heel seat, integral fastening prongs projecting upwardly atspaced intervals from the marginal edge of said plate, said prongs beingof suieient length to penetrate the outsole and insole stock of a shoeand to be bent over into clinching engagement therewith, reenforcingribs extending longitudi nally of said prongs, and a depending earprovided on said plate, said ear being formed with a centrally arrangedweakened portion.

'7. A shoe heel attaching device comprising a sheet metal plate formedfrom a one piece stamp ing, the body of said plate being longitudinallyand transversely curved to constitute a heel seat, an upwardly directedmarginal cutting ange of substantially U-shaped formation struck fromsaid plate, a plurality of relativelyl spaced sole penetrating attachingprongs constituting an integral portion of said plate, and integral heelattaching means depending from the body of said plate.

8. 'I'he method of forming shoe heel seats, which comprises securing theoutsole and insole of a shoe to the uppers thereof, transversely andinwardly slitting the outsole in registration with the breast line of aheel to be attached thereto, forcing a pronged metallic heel attachingplate into engagement with the heel region of the outsole so that theprongs of said plate will be pressed through said outsole and insole andclinched in engagement therewith, and, simultaneously with theattachment of said plate, cutting the outsole to remove a U-shaped blanktherefrom whereby to cause said plate to completely cover the heelreceiving region of the outsole.

9. A shoe heel attaching device comprising a sheet metal platelongitudinally and transversely curved to t the seating surface of ashoe heel, a substantially U-shaped sharpened flange extending upwardlyfrom the marginal edge of said plate, and reenforced prong extensionsprovided at spaced points on said ange.

10. A shoe heel attaching device comprising a sheet metal plate curvedto fit the seating surface of a shoe heel, a substantially U-shapedupwardly extending flange formed at the marginal edge of said plate,said flange being beveled toward the inner edge to form a knife,reenforced prong extensions provided at spaced points on said flange,the outer extremities of said prongs being inwardly tapered to form acutting edge substantially in alignment with the cutting edge on saidflange.

1l. The combination with a shoe having an insole, an outsole and upperssecured together, of a heel attaching plate formed to lit the seatingsurface of the heel for said shoe, said plate being provided with anupwardly directed sharpened flange, prong extensionsprovided at spacedpoints on said ange, the outer extremities of said prongs extendingthrough the shoe outsole and insole and being clinched in position,depending ears formed on said plate, said ears being arranged in slotsin the shoe heel, and a pin extending into an opening in said heel andthrough said ears, said pin being provided with a plurality of spacedannular shoulders.

HIRAM GORDON. ALBERT C. ROGGE.

